Scott & Lafeber tie for lead

Australia's Adam Scott continued his recent putting revival to tie for the Scandinavian Masters third-round lead on Saturday, bringing himself nearer his target of qualifying for the President's Cup team.

Scott, avoiding a three-putt for the third day in a row, fired a blemish-free five-under-par 67, drawing level with Dutchman Maarten Lafeber at eight-under 208 and two clear of the field.

Lafeber, who opened with rounds of 68 and 71, carded a 69.

Britain's Nick Dougherty lost the lead he had held for two days as he slumped to a 74, dropping back into a share of third with Swede Carl Pettersson, who fired a course-record 66, and fellow Britons, Luke Donald (71) and Steve Webster (68).

Scott, 23, without a win since claiming last year's Scottish PGA championship by 10 strokes, has been bedevilled by putting woes since losing to Tiger Woods in the WGC Accenture Match Play in early March.

His putting had deteriorated so badly coming into this week's event that he had three-putted at least once in every one of his 17 rounds over the last two months. But hard work on his putting has finally paid off.

"The last couple of months I'd not felt I could win, but the last three days have showed me I'm past that," said Scott, who is bidding this week for his fourth European Tour title in less than three years.

"Three-putting is such a waste of strokes. It's not so much the 20-footers but six feet and in.

"I've worked so hard to get it right, changed a couple of things -- like marking a line on my ball to line up correctly -- and, if I putt well tomorrow, then it's going to take a great round to beat me."

Scott added that he has two immediate goals: winning the Scandinavian Masters and getting into Gary Player's International team to take on Jack Nicklaus's United States line-up at the President's Cup in South Africa in November.

The Australian currently lies 15th in the International team's points table and needs to be in the top 10 by the end of the U.S. PGA Championship in two weeks' time.

Lafeber, who moved into a share of the lead by sinking a 25-foot birdie putt at the last, was heartened by his grandstand finish, as he, too, has suffered from recent putting woes.

The 28-year-old Dutch professional has turned to renowned Belgian sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout for help.

"Jos told me that the ball doesn't go into the hole just because I want it to," said Lafeber, who is yet to win on the European Tour despite several close calls.

"Last year, I led the Madrid Open, Lancome Trophy and then in Taiwan but didn't win, and I made too big a deal of it.

"If it isn't my turn tomorrow, then maybe it will come next week, next month, even next year. I've been too hard on myself."

Dougherty, three strokes ahead at the start of the round after opening scores of 67 and 69, battled to his 74.

"I was hoping to play well and widen the margin but at least I didn't blow it completely," he said. "Scotty and Maarten will have to do the business to beat me if I can get in before them with a 66."

The 21-year-old Englishman will play with his 2001 Walker Cup team mate Donald in Sunday's final round.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page